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She took a sip of her water. What was it they said? Water cured most things, including headaches?
‘How’s it going in here?’ Flora peered through the slightly open door before stepping inside and closing it quietly.
‘Okay, thanks. Dougal’s still sleeping.’
‘Poor little poppet.’ Flora placed her hands on the back of the chair opposite Poppy. ‘I’ve spoken to the vet’s and there wasn’t a mix-up. Gavin has sold the surgery. I knew he was planning to. I just hadn’t realised he’d found someone to buy him out, let alone that it would go through as quickly as it has.’
‘So that couldn’t have been Gavin I saw with Dougal earlier then?’
‘No. Apparently, that was Mack, the new owner.’ Flora leaned her elbows on the chair back and leaned forward.
‘No wonder both he and the receptionist looked at me as though I’d grown another head when I said about the tab and the agreement. The receptionist must be new too?’
‘I believe so, yes. Yvonne, who used to work there, was only a couple of years away from retirement. She’d been speaking about quitting and looking after her grandchildren to save her daughter some money on childcare. With Gavin selling up, she must have decided it was the right time.’
‘Good for her. So you just need to set up another tab and speak to Mack about giving free treatments, then?’
‘Unfortunately, no. According to him, everything needs to be paid for. Treatment, medication, everything…’ Flora sighed.
‘Really? He seemed such a nice guy. He was really interested in Dougal and doing his best for him.’ Poppy frowned. She’d been certain he was a proper animal lover, not one of these vets who only worked for the money.
‘I’m sure he is, and from what you’ve told me about the way he was with Dougal, I’m sure his intentions are good, but there was no budging on his decision. No movement whatsoever.’
‘What are you going to do?’ Poppy looked down at Dougal, who was still asleep on her lap. He needed treatment and because of how poorly he was, it was likely to be expensive.
‘I don’t know. I’d ask Freya but the veterinary surgery she works at is in the opposite direction, past Penworth Bay, well over an hour away, and we really need to have them registered at one closer. Some of the dogs we get coming through don’t travel well in the car and, of course, in case of emergencies.’ Flora straightened her back and tapped the back of the chair. ‘Never mind. We’ll figure something out.’
5
Poppy yawned and lowered herself down next to where Ginny sat in Dougal’s kennel. Poppy had woken early to check on him but had found Ginny had got there first, with the small dog strewn across her lap.
‘How do you not look tired? How long have you been here?’
‘Ha ha, I’ve always been a bit of an early bird.’ Ginny tilted her head. ‘Well, and a bit of a night owl, too. I guess I can just function on next to no sleep some days.’
‘I don’t know how you do it. Don’t get me wrong, when I do force myself to get up early, I love it, but I find it much easier to stay awake until the birds’ dawn chorus and then go to bed rather than wake up in time to hear the birds sing their first song of the day.’ She took a long gulp of coffee, swilling the drink around her mouth before swallowing in the hope that somehow she’d extract more of the caffeine.
Ginny grinned. ‘You’re up early today.’
‘Yes, not as early as you, though. I think half past six is my limit.’ She nodded towards Dougal. ‘How’s he been?’
‘The same.’ Ginny frowned. ‘I managed to coax the tiniest piece of chicken down him, but it was barely as big as my fingernail…’ She held up her little finger.
‘I do hope Mack rings back today with some good news.’
‘Yes, hopefully it’s something easily treatable.’
Poppy crossed her fingers before moving her legs in the hope of slowing the pins and needles which were already creeping up her legs. ‘I still can’t believe he’s not even prepared to give us a discount.’
‘Yeah, you would have thought he’d be willing to offer something at least, even if he wasn’t going to give the treatment for free.’
‘I wonder if Aunt Flora will end up going somewhere else?’
‘Maybe. I don’t think she wants to because of the distance, but I’m sure Freya would help.’
Poppy stroked Dougal between his eyes. ‘Oh, she mentioned Freya. Is she a friend?’
‘She used to volunteer at Elsie’s bakery before deciding to stay down here and taking over the surgery. You know Elsie, right?’
